What Does "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" Mean?
The term "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" is Kannada. It translates to "This time, the cup is ours." RCB fans chant this slogan each season of the IPL every year. So far, their expectations came to nothing. This year, however, the slogan turned out to be true. RCB has captured the IPL trophy.
RCB's Previous IPL Experience
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings both hold five IPL titles. RCB, though well-liked and having superstar players, had never won even once until today. Gujarat Titans won the cup in their first season three years ago. So, that made RCB's long wait even more surprising. The team played well in some seasons and went to the final three times but never won the cup. Virat Kohli did his best as both a player and a captain, yet the title did not come within reach. When Rajat Patidar took over as captain this season, expectations were low among the fans. The side wasn't strong either after the mega auction. Most thought that winning the trophy this season would be difficult again.
What Changed This Season for RCB?
RCB has seen several legendary players in the past—Dravid, Kumble, Yuvraj Singh, Gayle, de Villiers, and Watson. Still, the team failed to secure a title. When Kohli, Gayle, and de Villiers played together, the batting looked powerful. However, inconsistency and weak bowling caused many defeats in crucial matches. The team used to depend too heavily on superstars such as Kohli, too.
This year, the team was different. Kohli batted well, but batting was well-balanced. Phil Salt provided quick starts. Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar batted steady matches. Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd contributed to finishing games strongly. The batting order batted as a unit.
Excellent Bowling Performance Was The Key
Bowling was RCB's strongest area of improvement this season. In earlier seasons, even big scores were not secure. This time, the bowling attack was consistent. Josh Hazlewood took the lead from the front, grabbing important wickets. He turned losing matches into victories. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal helped him along. Spinner Krunal Pandya also played a key role, particularly in the final. Captain Rajat Patidar utilized his players intelligently and remained calm under pressure. All these helped RCB bag their first IPL title.
Virat Kohli Finally Achieves His IPL Dream
Virat Kohli won the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 2023 T20 World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He also led India to numerous series wins. But winning the IPL was something he couldn't do until today. Fans used to cry when young players were lifting trophies while Kohli continued missing out. Even in 2016, when RCB played decently and Kohli got a lot of runs, they were unable to win.
This season, Kohli was again the top scorer for RCB. He ended up as the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament. His consistency and effort finally paid off. With the IPL trophy now added to his achievements, Kohli’s career feels more complete.
RCB Fans Celebrate a Long-Awaited Victory
RCB fans have always shown strong support, win or lose. Their loyalty has been unique. Despite many setbacks, they never gave up. Kohli himself has frequently mentioned their affection and support. His inspiration to win the title was partly motivated by the expectation of the fans. Their patience has been fulfilled with this win this year. The celebrations were huge. For the fans and for Kohli, the dream of "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" came true.
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